All that stands in the way of Idaho's first significant incentive to attract film and television productions is a vote in the Senate and $1 million in funding.
House Bill 592, which sets up an incentive program to offer filmmakers a 20 percent rebate on production costs, passed the Senate's Commerce and Human Resources Committee 8-1 on Thursday.
To receive the rebate, a company would have to hire at least 20 percent of its crew from Idaho. The maximum rebate would be capped at $500,000.
The bill only authorizes the Idaho Department of Commerce to set up the program. The $1 million required to fund it for five years would have to come from a separate request, which Commerce officials concede is unlikely this year.
Sen. Joe Stegner, R-Lewiston, the lone vote against the measure, called it a 'bribe' to the film and TV industries.
"Nowhere else have we set up a specific fund to bribe businesses to come to the state and receive a 20 percent discount," Stegner said. "I don't think this is something the state of Idaho should engage in."
Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, said the Legislature had already approved a $1 million fund for the Department of Commerce to help close economic development deals. Stegner said that fund isn't directed to just one industry.
A similar bill last year passed the Senate, but failed in the House by a one-vote margin.
The Idaho bill is modeled after similar incentives Utah has had in place for five years.
Acting Commerce Director Don Dietrich said the Utah program returns $12 to Utah's economy for every dollar spent by production companies and has helped create jobs 1,700 in 2007 and 2008.